DISRAELI 79

without markets, the revenue declining, and the army inarmed,
the wealthy hoarding their useless capital, and pauperism pros-
trate in our once-contented cottages.**

In fact, it all sounds exactly like the condition of* affairs to-day.
Unfortunately these glowing words tell on deaf cars. At the
next election a Whig, named Smith, headed the poll. Colon?!
Grey came next, and Disraeli at the hot torn,

Various occupations now engaged him. lie went on to Bath
with Bulwer and began a new novel, hut February found him
back in London listening to Hulwer adjourn the Home of
Commons, He also heard what he calls M;u*auby*s best spm h,
and assures Sarah at the sumo time that he could floor them all.
He had sat next Sir Robert Peel at a men's dinner-party during
the previous year and alleged that Peel attacked hi* turbot
mostly with his knife* Peel behaved in a friendly manner, little
dreaming what the future was to bring forth.

By the spring of 1833 a year had pulsed siiue Disraeli's first
attempt to enter Parliament and he still remained us far as ever
from his goal, chiefly because, in opinions, he represented no
one but himself and could not fall into line with either of the
great Parties.

The year 1832 proved politically disastrous for both Mary
Anne's husbands, the existing and the prospective, Wyndham
Lewis, his Aldeburgh constituency extinguished alike by the
tide and the Reform Bill, stood as a Tory for Maidstone, which
continued to return two Whigs, who defeated Wyndham by
forty-eight votes. All Mary Anne's charm and persuasiveness
failed to lure Maidstone from its persistent Whiggcry, or perhaps
Wyndham failed to spend enough money on getting himself
returned.

glance at the electoral system of the early nineteenth century can
scarcely lack interest. In 1831, before the passing of the Reform
Act, there existed both county members and borough members*
County members were elected by freeholders of land bringing
in at least forty shillings a year, There w*a only one voting
place for a county, so that a candidate, as well as bribing Jws
voters, had to take them to the voting place, board and 2odg«
them while they remained there, and take them back home
afterwards. Inevitably gang warfare took place
supporters and their opponents who picketed the |